Progress in the British hypodermosis eradication programme: the role of serological surveillance.

The British warble fly eradication programme has resulted in the numbers of infested cattle falling from an estimated four million in 1978 to zero in 1991. In 1982, when about 705 herds were infested the disease was made notifiable, and serological surveillance was begun in 1988. In spring 1991, 227,000 blood samples were tested by using the ELISA technique and no warbled animals were found. In addition no clinical cases were reported during 1991.